Good news and bad news

Lots of knitting to blog about, but not all of it good. I was almost finished with the first front panel of my Oblique sweater when I began to be suspicious about the stitch count. But actually, the problem was I had distributed the stitch incorrectly over the three patterns in the panel. How on earth I did that I don't know, since the pattern directions are perfectly clear. The sweater pattern is complicated, but clear. I cast on the second panel to confirm my suspicions before I ripped the first one back to the ribbing, but eventually it had to be done. I've already made mistakes in the second panel, but nothing that can't be compensated for. I'm still enjoying the knitting, and since it's a lacy pattern, it moves along rather quickly.

More on the frogging front: I finally decided I will never finished my Princess Cardigan. The pattern is an interesting knit, but the very complicated combination of cables and lace had become too much. Plus, I had a terrible time getting gauge, and was knitting it on needles way small than the pattern called for. I know I'm a fairly loose knitter, but this was ridiculous. Finally, I admitted to myself I know longer liked the colour of the yarn I was using. So the other day I frogged all I had done (the back and one front panel), washed the yarn, and soon will be dropping it off at the Purl to be given to charity.

Speaking of the Purl, Miko has given us all a challenge to pick a knitting book or magazine, and knit every pattern in it. I really would like to pick The Knitter's Book of Wool, but it would completely overwhelm my other knitting, and I have two sweaters to finish. So I wimped out and picked Whimsical Little Knits by Ysolda. I was already planning on knit Ishbel and the booties, so this will be easy. The daughters have picked out the hats they want, and the cats will enjoy Mousie.

So I'm forging ahead on my shetland shawl so I don't have three lace projects going at the same time. Forest Path, unfortunately, has slowed down to a creeping pace of one square a week. I have about 45 squares to go! Plus the edging. Ready for next spring, maybe?

Delurker day and whatever

Apparently today is Delurker Day, and since I am a lurking addict, I posted a comment at one blog, and then decided to come here to blog something.

I've been knitting a fair amount, but I haven't felt like blogging, probably because Maria is still wiped out by mono and it's depressing. Fortunately her teachers have been very accommodating and helping her to keep up.

Although I've been trying restrict my WIPs to 3 or 4, I did cast on another lace project: the Shetland Tea Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. I'm using the suggested needle size, and I consider myself a loose knitter, but it sure doesn't look like it's going to be anywhere near as large as the pattern says. But the truth will be in the blocking. Here's a not very good picture of what I've done so far:



I'm also working the Leyburn socks.



These are my first toe-up socks, and so far, I am not impressed. I think I made the foot too long, but I couldn't be sure until I had knit up the heel. With cuff-down socks, if the foot ends up too long, all you have to do is rip out the toe. I really don't want to rip out the heel, especially as it was a short-row heel, and I hate short rows. Oh, well, the pattern is pretty, though annoying to knit, and I will do the second one. No "one sock syndrome" for me!